Question

The Lewis structure for a chlorate ion, ClO₃^–, should show ____ single bond(s), ____ double bond(s), and ____ lone pair(s).

Answer 1

The answer is 3single bonds,0 double bonds,10 lone pairs.

It means the Lewis structure for a chlorate ion, ClO3–, should show three (3) single bonds, no or zero double bond, and ten (10) lone pairs.

The process to find the number of bonds, lone pair of electrons of Chloride ion is given below:

Step1: Find the valence electrons of all atoms and add them together.

Cl has 7;

O has 6*3=18

7+18= 25 electrons

Add an electron to the total number of valence electrons as the molecule has negative charge on it.

25+1= 26 electrons

Step2: Find the octet electron for each atom and add them together.

Cl - 8;

O - 8*3=24

Total electrons=8+24=32electons

Step3: Total number of bonding electrons is obtained by subtracting total number of valence electrons from total number of octet electrons.

32-26= 6bonding electrons.

Step4: Total number of single bonds is obtained by dividing bonding electrons with 2.

6/2= 3 bond pairs.

Step5: Total number of non-bonding electrons can be obtained by subtracting bonding electrons from total number of valence electrons.

26-6= 20 non –bonding electrons

Step6: The lone pair of electrons is obtained by dividing non-bonding electrons with 2.

20/2= 10 lone pair of electrons.